Means for use in launching ships



A. GRAY MEANS FOR USE I'N'LAUNCI IING SHIPS Filed Aug. 20, 1945 I J? moi/ma Patented Dec. 26, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,366,021 MEANS FOR USE IN LAUNCHING smrs Alexander F. Gray, Savannah, Ga. Application August 20, 1943, Serial No. 499,413

' i Claims.

The invention is particularly designed to elimihate the costly and labor-consuming use of the conventional wedges, which are used to lift the ship's hull in launching preparation, and which require not only a considerable amount of time but the use of a large number of workmen, and even then is not completely satisfactory owing to lack of wedge uniformity in application.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of tubular hose-like elements, each connected to a header, and through such header simultaneously or selectively open to a common supply line for a pressure medium, whereby the hose-like elements, maintained substantially flat or collapsed in the ship-supporting structure, are, at will, and by such pressure medium, distended into their fully-rounded or expanded shape to exert the necessary lifting power for the ships hull necessary to permit a launching.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view showing a ships hull in outline, the ways for the same, and the application of the improved lifting means.

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the ways of one adjacent section on one side of the hull.

Figure 3 is an enlarged broken view of ends of adjacent ways.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the header.

Figure 5 is anenlarged broken side view of several sections of the launching ways, showing particularly the manifold and common supply line.

While the construction of the hull-supporting ways in detail is not of particular importance, a brief description of a more or less conventional arrangement will be given.

The ways underlying the hull of the ship near each side are, as usual, in so-called sections, with spaces between sections and the sections being duplicated longitudinally according to the length of the hull; The movable ways are slidably supported on a ground way I, On each side of the keel, made up of longitudinal, preferably square, timbers 2. The movable ways include on each section a sliding way 3, made up of similar timbers 4 on the ground way, and mounted on the a packing block 6. A similar series of timbers 1 overlie the packing block, constituting what will be termed the pressure rider 8. A suitable packing block 9 is arranged between the pressure rider 8 and the hull of the ship, indicated at l0. Metallic straps II are secured to and extend transversely of the outer surfaces of the ways of each section on both sides, being connected at l2 to the sliding way 3 and to the packing block-6. The straps II are slotted at l3 throughout the greater width of the pressure rider, and a headed connector I 4, carried by the pressure rider, cooperates with the slot I3 to permit independent movement of the pressure riders.

The particular feature of the present invention is the provision of means, whereby the pressure riders of the respective sections of the slidable ways may be directly and simply raised by selective pressure means to thereby raise the ships hull to an extent to allow for the release of the keel blocks, shores and cribbings.

A series of independent lengths of hose-like flexible elements l5 are arranged in spaced substantially parallel relation between the beams making up the pressure riders 8 and the packing blocks of each section of the sliding ways. These pressure elements are in effect of hose form, capable of collapse and distension and constructed of any appropriate material which will permit desired function without rupture and of a diameter appropriate to the particular hull being handled.

The hose elements are spaced by blocks l6 which permit practical collapse of the hose but prevent their being crushed. The free or outer end of each hose is preferably, but not necessarily,

, The header 20 is in communication through a pipe 2|, with a common supply lin 22, leading from any conventional source of supply of pressure, medium. The means for delivering the pressure medium to and through the supply line is not necessary to illustrate, as it may be an ordinary pump or any other means for the purpose.

As will be clear from Figure 1, the ways at the respective sides have their movable sections provided with the improved lifting means, with the supply line 22 at one side of the ways and in sufiicient length to supply all headers on that side. The keel blocks and wedges are shown generally at 23. The sliding ways 3 of each adjacent section are connected on each side by straps 24 for unit movement in launching.

During construction of the hull prior to launching, the hose elements are devoid of internal pressure and remain collapsed to the extent permitted by the blocks 16, and held in this condition by the weight on the pressure riders 8. When the ship is ready for launching, the pressure medium is admitted to the supply line 22' under necessary pressure, then to the header 2B, and from the header to the individual hose IS. The hose are thus distended to their full diameter,

raising the pressure riders and so the hull to permit removal of the wedges, keel blocks, shores,

and cribbing. Y v

The pressure in the hose is then released by opening valves 23 on the header or on the pipe 21, permitting the hose 1-5 to .again collapse to the extent permitted by the blocks .1 6. The hull is thus permitted to settle and rest securely on the ways ready for launching in the usual manner. Before cutting the launching plate for launching, the headers 2 B are disconnected from the hose joined therewith, and the headers are bodily swung outof the path of the ways, the arrangement of the pipes 2| and the supply line 22 permitting this movement.

If the pressure medium is hydraulic, the hose are first vented of contained air by opening the terminal valves 41 and the pressure medium admitted to clear the air, following which the valves i?! are closed and operativepressure continued to distend the .hose. If air or gas is used, the hose need not be initially vented.

The improvement provides :a simple easily handled and certain means for raising the hull, and dispenses entirely with the comparatively slow, laboriouaand .comparatively costly wedge-driving method conventionally employed. For example, in launching a vessel of ten thousand tons, from five to six hundred men are required, while fifty or sixty men are sufiicient in the use of the described pressure system.

Furthermore, due to the upsetting of the ways by the wedge system, considerable difliculty is generally experienced in recovery of such ways from the water after launching. The use of the described pressure system, by avoiding this upincluding ways on which the hull is supported,

and a plurality of independent hose elements arranged relative to the ways to act thereon to influence movement of the ways, and a source of fluid pressure to inflate the hose elements at will.

2. In combination with the launching ways .for a ship, a series of hose elements forming no part of said ways structure and normally in collapsed condition, said series of hose elements being in cooperative relation with the ways for raising the latter when the elements are inflated and means for delivering a pressure medium simultaneously to all suchhose elements for inflating the same for elevating a predetermined part of the ways and thereby the ship.

3. A construction as defined in claim .2, wherein the pressure medium delivering means includes a header in open communication with all hose elements.

4. .A construction as defined in claim 2, wherein means are provided to prevent complete collapse of the hose elements when the latter are deflated under the weight of the ship. i 5. A construction'as defined in claim 2, wherein blocks are provided to prevent complete collapse of the hose elements when the latter are deflated under the weight of the ship,

ALEXANDER F. GRAY. 

